Bringing 25+ years of experience and an engaging, diversity affirming approach to therapy
Dr Petra Becker
Clinical and Counselling Psychologist
AHPRA, APS, FCCOUNP, ACBS, ACP
Dr Petra Becker is a senior clinical psychologist with professional endorsement in both clinical and counselling psychology. Petra holds a professional doctorate in psychology and has trained in a diverse range of therapeutic methods. Her work history is predominately in clinical private practice and includes workplace consultancy, trauma and critical incident management and community development in remote, regional and metropolitan areas.
Petra serves people of all cultural backgrounds and supports adults, adolescents, couples and families in therapy. She takes a humanistic and non-pathologising approach and uses evidence based psychotherapeutic methods that can be powerfully transformative.
Petra’s treatment approach is based on recognising the strengths and resources of clients at all levels of psychological functioning. She works collaboratively with her clients and aims to provide a safe space for reflection, insights, and increased level of self-awareness. This serves as the basis for increased motivation to make the desired, positive changes in life. Petra will recommend positive and healthy self-management strategies in both brief, solution-focused or long-term therapy.
Petra has a particular interest in providing therapeutic interventions for trauma and loss & grief, including preverbal trauma, childhood trauma, attachment issues, traumatic events and negative life experiences. She clarifies the impact of trauma on our nervous system and the function of the vagus nerve. Clients are then able to become more aware of their body’s responses, particularly when triggered or under stress, enabling them to shift from defensive, survival states to a more balanced, engaged way of being.
Petra is passionate about helping clients to develop a stronger and healthier sense of self so that they can reach their full potential. The goal is to discover and understand a client’s personality traits, preferences, needs, spiritual beliefs, openness, and motivation level. Developing a healthy sense of self and self-compassion is crucial for clients who are struggling with shame, self-criticism, negative self-talk and anger issues.
The use of multiple different therapies provides greater insight and problem solving than a single therapeutic approach.
Chairwork Psychotherapy Certification Training:
Chairwork is an experiential method of psychotherapy that has its roots in psychodrama and Gestalt therapy. It is based on the belief that it is healing and transformative to facilitate expression of our inner voices or different parts of ourselves.
‘Forced Adoption’ Education and Training
Neurodivergent (i.e. ADHD, ASD)
Neurodiversity affirming practice and affirming language.
ADHD informed practice in psychology.
Trauma informed treatment for neurodivergent clients.
Certificate of Bereavement Counselling Practice:
Skills in grief therapy to address all types of grief including complicated grief reactions and disenfranchised grief, or other types of losses including coming to terms with death, loss of a pet, loss of a working life or breakdown of a significant relationship.
Certificate IV in Companion Animal Services
Practical and theoretical Behaviour training and handling, animal enrichment and health management.
Training of psychiatric therapy dogs supporting. Work with clients and their companion/assistance dogs.
With prior approval, clients may bring their own dog to sessions on the basis that they can provide additional therapeutic value.
Certificate in Equine Assisted Learning (Finland)
Equine assisted Psychotherapy (Australia); Horse Assisted Education for Managers & Leaders (Germany)
Provides models for a variety of leadership styles, insights into emotion regulation and management, and emotional connection. It highlights the value of experiential therapies, especially when incorporating animals on a therapeutic level to help improve a client’s self image, empathy, stress tolerance, impulse control and assertiveness as opposed to aggression.
Depression/Anxiety/Stress
Grief & Loss
Trauma/Complex Trauma/PTSD/Adjustment
Life Stage Transitions or Crises
‘People Pleasing’, ’Perfectionism’, ’Rejection Sensitivity’, & ‘Demand Sensitivity’
Neurodiversity, ADHD, Autism,
Relationship issues: conflict & abuse, separation, divorce, coparenting
Work related and workplace issues: conflict, bullying, burnout
Emotion/anxiety management
Bachelor’s Degree
in Behavioural Science
Master’s Degree
in Psychology
Doctoral Degree
in Psychology
